Around the Grounds
A marketplace of news and activities from around the state including upcoming grants, publications, outreach and Christmas waste reduction tips!.
Be Asbestos safe when renovating this summer
Be Asbestos Ready
The EPA’s campaign for asbestos safety is running from National Asbestos Awareness Week (21-27 November 2022) to late January 2023. It urges do-it-yourself renovators and tradies to be asbestos ready.
Over 3,000 products containing asbestos were used in Australian homes before asbestos was banned so we continue to warn people to be vigilant because you can’t always tell what products contain asbestos just by looking at them.
It may surprise people to know that:
- one in three homes in Australia is affected by asbestos
- do-it-yourself renovation has life-changing consequences if people are exposed to asbestos fibres
- almost 50% of adults in NSW who live in properties containing asbestos do not know how to deal or dispose of it safely.
For further information go to Asbestos NSW
The EPA proudly supports the NSW Asbestos Coordination Committee, which represents 14 agencies from local, NSW and Commonwealth governments. The EPA will continue to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos and how to stay safe, and on behalf of the NSW government will launch a major asbestos awareness campaign in 2022.
Litter prevention strategies and grants now available!
Following the release of the EPA’s Illegal Dumping Prevention Strategy 2022-2027 and the Litter Prevention Strategy 2022-2030, new rounds of grants are now open.
Find out more and apply
NSW EPA Annual Report 2021-22 published
Our latest Annual Report (2021-22) is now available on the website and you can also view the highlights.
The report includes outcomes and achievements in our five areas of strategic priority: ecologically sustainable development, waste, water quality, legacy and emerging contaminants, and climate change.
A happy sustainable festive season – it’s in the bag!
In addition to our organics team’s great food saving tips, here are some other great ideas for giving sustainability a great wrap.
- Make colourful, reusable gift bags of all sizes from material remnants.
- Consider attractive cloth zip-up bags as the actual gift! They are a great alternative to plastic zip-locks and can be used for storing or travelling with loose items like medications or charger cords. If you really need a liquid proof option in the kitchen, use silicone reusable zip bags.
- Christmas cards made primarily from cardboard and gift wrapping made from paper, are both recyclable in your council kerbside recycling bin as long they are not covered with other items like tinsel or plastic. So recycle cards or wrapping paper –or turn them into decorations for next Christmas.
Out and about
We have been out meeting our communities in person at a range of gatherings and events over the past few months.
